Handle-latch



A ril 6, 1965 F. R. NUCKOLS 3,177,023,

HANDLE-LATCH Filed Nov. 50, 1962 INVENTOR.

k 40i Rberf/Vaclo (5 United States Patent 9 Frank Robert Nuclrols, Naperville, lib, assignor to Fin N Feather Farm, lino, Dundee, llil., a corporation of Illinois Filed Nov. 30, 1962, Ser. No. 241,358 3 Claims. ((1. 292-128) This invention relates to a handle-latch and, more particularly, to a combination handle and latch for releasably latching two structures together, the latching and releasing action being simply effected by slight manual pressure.

For many purposes there exists a need for a simple, positive, responsive latch which can be activated and released very quiclzly by slight manual pressure exertable by one hand. An example of the need is found in the case of grilling operations wherein two heated surfaces are held under pressure in contact with a food product during the grilling of same. For example, when employing a commercial embodiment of a sandwich grill such as disclosed in Strietelmeier US. Patent 2,453,439 in public eating establishments, there is a need for a latching device whereby the two grilling plates can be quickly latched together during the toasting cycle and just as quickly released at the completion thereof, both operations requiring only slight manual pressure.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide such a latch. It is a more specific object of the present invention to provide a combination handle and latch which will permit the single-handed manipulation of the cookin surfaces and also the single-handed latching and unlatching of the cooking plates before and after the toasting operation. It is a further and more-general object to provide a simple, inexpensive handle-latch for releasably latching structure together, which handle-latch can be placed in the latched or unlatched position readily by means of slight manual pressure without requiring movement of the structures themseleves. These and other objects will become apparent as a detailed description thereof proceeds.

Such objects are herein achieved by means of a handlelatch capable of releasably latching two adiacent structures. In one embodiment it comprises a support means securable to one structure and latch-engaging means securable to the other structure. A handle means or lever is pivotally mounted on the support means such that it is capable of restricted pivotal movement with respect to the support means. This pivotal movement is biased, usually by a spring, in a direction away from the latchengaging means when the adjacent structures are disposed for latching. A latch means is in turn pivotally supported on the handle means so as to be capable of restricted pivotal movement with respect to the handle means; but this pivotal movement is biased, advantageously by spring means or gravity, preferably gravity, in a direction towards said latch-engaging means when the adjacent structures are disposed for latching. The pivotal movement of the handle means with respect to the support means and the pivotal movement of the latch means with respect to the handle means are interrelated so that engagement of the latch means and the latchengaging means is efiected only by overcoming the bias in the pivotal movement of the handle means.

While the more-detailed description hereinafter is presented in the form of a particular embodiment, it should be understood that such description is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to be limiting. Other advantageous applications of the handle-latch of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the present disclosure, which includes the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation view of a preferred em bodiment showing the handle-latch in the latched position;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation view similar to that of FIGURE 1 but wherein the handle-latch is shown in the the unlatched position;

FEGURE 3 is an exploded perspective view of certain of the components of the handle-latch of FIGURES 1 and 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a sectional side elevation of the assembled components showing the internal relationships which are partially hidden in FIGURES 1 and 2.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2 together, the handlelatch A of the present invention is employed for the latching of a pair of mold plates ll and 12, the internal contours of which may advantageously be shaped as described in the aforementioned Strietelmeier US. Patent 2,463,439. Mold plates 10 and 12, which are shown in the closed position, mold plate in slightly overlapping mold plate 12;, are hingedly secured together at hinge 14 via associated structure.

The structure associated with plate ill includes a heating head enclosed within ornamental housing 16, and downward-depending hinge support 18. The structure associated with plate 12 includes heating base 26] mounted on support frame 22, which has a suitable lower supporting structure (not shown), e.g., rubber grommets or the like for slip-resistant mounting on any desired surface such as a counter top. An upstanding hinge support 24 for hinge 14 is also mounted on frame 22.

The heating head and heating base comprise electrical heating elements and associated electrical circuits (not shown) which are of a type well known to those skilled in such art. Control mechanisms for the electrical circuitry, e.g., rheostat, on-off timer, indicator lights, and

the like, maybe advantageously housed within frame 22 with appropriate control knobs and indicator-light viewers projecting externally therefrom.

Handle-latch A of the present invention serves the same function as the handles shown in the aforementioned Strietelmeier U.S. Patent 2,463,439 but in an improved manner. With the addition of electrical heating, as depicted in the embodiment of FIGURES 1 and 2 of this application, the apparatus is rendered suitable for rapid counter-top operation wherein the opening and closing of the apparatus and the latching and unlatching thereof may be carried out by simple single-handed motions. The ad-. vantages of such simplified operating motions are particu-.

larly apparent in public-eating establishments wherein units having a plurality of mold plates mounted on a single frame are controlled by a lone attendant. With other demands on his time he is capable of turning out grflilled sandwiches ata profitable rate with a minimum of e ort.

The upper portion of the embodiment of the handlelatch shown in exploded detail and in section in FIG- URES 3 and 4, respectively, performs the function of one of the handles of the apparatus of Strietelmeier US. Patent 2,463,439. Likewise, latch-engaging projection 26 on frame 22, which, as aforementioned, is associated with mold plate 12, performs the function of the other handle of the Strietelmeier patent.

The upper portion of handle-latch A, which is shown in FIGURE 3, comprises support bracket 28 which is fixedly secured, e.g., by welding, bolting or otherwise, to

3, projection 29 on housing 16. Handle or lever 30 is pivotally mounted on bracket 28 by means of pivot pin 32, which passes through apertures 34 and an opposite aperture (hidden) in side surfaces 36 and 38 which depend downwardly from upper plate 39 of handle 30. When handle 30 is assembled, the apertures in sides 36 and 38 register with apertures 40 and 42 in bracket 28 so that when pivot pin 32 is passed through the four apertures, a pivotal mounting results. The pivotal movement of handle 30 with respect to bracket 28 is limited to a restricted arc by outward-extending wings 44 and 46, portions of which strike against the under-surface of bracket 28 at each extremity of the arc, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 V Latch means 48, which includes pressure plate and downward-depending latch arm 52 with engageable lip 54, is pivotally supported by upstanding extension 56 at one side of pressure plate 50 and another similar upstanding extension at the other side of pressure plate 50, which is hidden in the drawings The pivotal mounting is achieved by means of apertures, e.g., aperture 58, in the upstanding extensions, which register internally with apertures and 6 2 in side plates 36 and 38, respectively, of lever 30. The mounting is completed by means of pivot pin 64, which passes through the apertures.

The. pivot movement of latch means 48 is limited to a restricted arc by contact of the upper edges of the upstanding extensions, e.g., extension 56, of pressure plate 50 against the under surface 'of pressure plate 39 of handle 30, as shown in FIGURE 4. When assembled in the unlatched position as shown in FIGURES 2 and 4, the movement of handle means 30 is biased to the extremity away from latch-engaging extension 26 by means of spring 66, which is tensioned against lug 68 on bracket 28 and also the under surface of pressure lever 39.

Latch means 48, including arm 52, is gravitationally biased to the extremity of its limited arc of movement towards latch-engaging extension 26. The restricted arcs of movement of handle means 30 and latch means 48 are such that, as shown'in FIGURE 2, lip 54 of downwarddepending arm 52 does not engage latch-engaging extension 26 in the normally-biased positions. When the bias of; handle means 30 is overcome by pressing downward on pressure plate 39, lip 54 of arm 52 drops and swings beneath the latch-engaging extension 26. When. pressure is relieved from plate 39, lip 54 engages latch-engaging extension 26 and maintains the two structures in latched condition, as depicted in FIGURE 1.

The unlatching of the two structures is readily accomplished by simply applying sufficient upward pressure against the lower surface of pressure plate 50 so that lip 54 is pulled from under latch-engaging extension 26,. As soon as lip 54. clears latch-engaging extension 26, handle means 30, under the bias of spring 66, springs to its upward, position, as depicted in FIGURES 2 and 4.

It is readily apparent that the two structures, including plates 10 and 12, may be opened and closed about hinge. 14 by means of single-handed manipulation of V handle means 30. When the plates are brought together as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the latching thereof together is simply achieved by single-handed downward pressure on pressure plate 39. of handle means 30. Similarly, when it is desired to unlatch the structures,

a it is readily accomplished by upwardgpressure on the lower surface of pressure plate 50 of latch means 48. It isthus apparent that the objects of have. een hie a While the apparatus of the present invention has been 7 this invention 7 wich grill illustrated. In addition, while a particular shape for 'each of the present elements of the present invention is depicted in the drawings, it is apparent that many other shapes and configurations may be employed to perform the same functions.

Further, decorative and/ or utilitarian coverings or extensions, e.g., heat-insulating plastic pieces, may be attached or otherwise secured, e.g., by screws, to handle 30 and latch means 48 to improve appearance, provide a cool contact surface, increase leverage, or the like. It is contemplated that these and other modifications apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the present disclosure are within the spirit 'and scope of the present invention, and coverage thereof is intended by the present application.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A combination handle-latch for structures joined by hinge means so as to releasably latch same in a closed position comprising:

(a) support means fixedly secured to one of said structures in spaced relation from said hinge means;

(b) a latch-engaging extension fixedly secured to said other structure in spaced relation from said hinge means and disposed in apposed relationship to said support means when the structures are in said closed position;

(c) handle means for moving said one structure and being pivotally mounted on said support means for pivotal movement through a restricted arc with respect thereto, said handle'means including spring means biasing said handle means to one extremity of said arc, said extremity being in a direction away from said latch-engaging extension when said structures are in said closed position; and

(d) latch means pivotally supported on said handle means for pivotal movement through a restricted 4 are with respect thereto, said latch means including avlatch arm with an engageable lip adjacent an extremity thereof, said latch arm and engageable lip being gravitationally biased towards said latch-engaging extension when said structures are in said closed position;

the handle means and the latch means being disposed so that contact between said engageable lip and said latchengaging means is effected by overcoming the bias of said spring means. 7

V 2. A combination handle-latch for releasably latching in a closed position upper and lower structures joined by a peripheral hinge comprising:

(a) a support bracket secured to the upper structure at the outer periphery thereof and in spaced relation from the hinge;

(b)} a latch-engaging extension secured to the lower a Iestricted'arc with respect thereto, said handle lever being spring-biased to one extremity of said arc, said extremity being in a direction away from said latch-engaging extension when said upper and lower structures are in said closed position; and

(d) a latch arm 'pivotally' supported on said handle lever for pivotal movement through a restricted are with respect thereto, said latch arm having an engageable lip. adjacent the lower extremity thereof, said latch arm and engageable lip being gravitationally biased towards said latch-engaging extension,

when said upper and lower structures are in said closed position; the

handle lever and latch arm being disposed so that &

engagement between said engageable lip and said latchengaging extension is effected by manually overcoming the bias of said spring means, and release of said engageable lip from said latch-engaging extension is effected by manual movement of said latch arm in a direction opposite to the gravitational bias.

3. The combination handle-latch of claim 2, wherein the plane of the restricted arc of said handle lever and the plane of the restricted arc of said latch arm are substantially coincident.

5 References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 168,677 10/75 Simpson 29266 5 1,969,361 8/34 Fajen 99381 2,349,486 5/44 Crosman 292-210 2,626,172 1/53 Herrick 292-247 3,030,137 4/62 Cheney 292113 M. HENSON WOOR, JR., Primary Examiner. ALBERT H. KAMPE, Exa mz'ner. 

1. A COMBINATION HANDLE-LATCH FOR STRUCTURES JOINED BY HINGE MEANS SO AS TO RELEASABLY LATCH SAME IN A CLOSED POSITION COMPRISING: (A) SUPPORT MEANS FIXEDLY SECURED TO ONE OF SAID STRUCTURES IN SPACED RELATION FROM SAID HINGE MEANS; (B) A LATCH-ENGAGING EXTENSION FIXEDLY SECURED TO SAID OTHER STRUCTURE IN SPACED RELATION FROM SAID HINGE MEANS AND DISPOSED IN OPPOSED RELATIONSHIP TO SAID SUPPORT MEANS WHEN THE STRUCTURES ARE IN SAID CLOSED POSITION; (C) HANDLE MEANS FOR MOVING SAID ONE STRUCTURE AND BEING PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT THROUGH A RESTRICTED ARC WITH RESPECT THERETO, SAID HANDLE MEANS INCLUDING SPRING MEANS BIASING SAID HANDLE MEANS TO ONE EXTREMITY OF SAID ARC, SAID EXTREMITY BEING IN A DIRECTION AWAY FROM SAID LATCH-ENGAGING EXTENSION WHEN SAID STRUCTURES ARE IN SAID CLOSED POSITION; AND (D) LATCH MEANS PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED ON SAID HANDLE MEANS FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT THROUGH A RESTRICTED ARC WITH RESPECT THERETO, SAID LATCH MEANS INCLUDING A LATCH ARM WITH AN ENGAGEABLE LIP ADJACENT AN EXTREMITY THEREOF, SAID LATCH ARM AND ENGAGEABLE LIP BEING GRAVITATIONALLY BIASED TOWARDS SAID LATCH-ENGAGING EXTENSION WHEN SAID STRUCTURES ARE IN SAID CLOSED POSITION; THE HANDLE MEANS AND THE LATCH MEANS BEING DISPOSED SO THAT CONTACT BETWEEN SAID ENGAGEABLE LIP AND SAID LATCHENGAGING MEANS IS EFFECTED BY OVERCOMING THE BIAS OF SAID SPRING MEANS. 